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Victor Espinoza says 2002 has prepared him for this year's Triple Crown attempt

Twelve years ago his horse stumbled out of the gate at the Belmont Stakes

Espinoza says California Chrome likes it when the jockey shows who is boss

A dozen years ago, jockey Victor Espinoza went into the Belmont Stakes on War Emblem with a chance to win one of sports' great titles, the Triple Crown.

But the horse stumbled out of the gate and finished eighth.

Espinoza, who has been riding professionally since 1993, told CNN that he is excited to get a second chance for greatness on June 7 on California Chrome.

"I am ready for it this time, and I am prepared to get it done," he said Tuesday at Santa Anita Park in California, adding that being in the situation before was a big help.

Espinoza said he was never worried about whether California Chrome would be able to wear a nasal strip, as he has in his past six races, all wins. That includes wins at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Stewards in New York voted Tuesday to change the state's policy toward nasal strips on thoroughbreds.

Photos:Triple Crown winners

Photos:Triple Crown winners

Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner American Pharoah wins the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes in New York on Saturday, June 6, to become the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed did so in 1978.

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Photos:Triple Crown winners

Sir Barton was the first horse to earn the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, as it would come to be known, by winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in 1919.

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Photos:Triple Crown winners

More than a decade later, Gallant Fox captured the Triple Crown in 1930.

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Photos:Triple Crown winners

Jockey Pat Beasley rides Omaha in 1936. The horse won the Triple Crown in 1935.

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Photos:Triple Crown winners

War Admiral won the Triple Crown in 1937. He won 21 of his 26 career starts.

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Photos:Triple Crown winners

Whirlaway, right, won the Triple Crown in 1941.

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Photos:Triple Crown winners

Count Fleet, who won the Triple Crown in 1943, is adorned with flowers after winning the Preakness that year.

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Photos:Triple Crown winners

Assault won the Triple Crown in 1946.

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Photos:Triple Crown winners

Citation won the Triple Crown in 1948.

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Photos:Triple Crown winners

Secretariat, left, heads to victory at the Kentucky Derby in 1973. Considered by many to be the greatest racehorse of all time, Secretariat still holds the record for the fastest times in all three Triple Crown races. He won the Belmont by an astounding 31 lengths.

'The fastest two minutes in sport' – California Chrome has arrived at Louisville for the Kentucky Derby build-up and remains the favorite to win the famous trophy.

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Photos:'The fastest two minutes in sport'

'The fastest two minutes in sport' – A crowd of 150,000 is expected to flock to Churchill Downs to see the field leave the stalls for the 140th Kentucky Derby.

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Photos:'The fastest two minutes in sport'

'The fastest two minutes in sport' – Last year's winner of a race billed as "the fastest two minutes in sport" was Orb, ridden through the mud to victory by jockey Joel Rosario.

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Photos:'The fastest two minutes in sport'

'The fastest two minutes in sport' – This year's favorite when they enter the first turn is California Chrome, a horse that cost its owners a mere $10,000 to breed.

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Photos:'The fastest two minutes in sport'

'The fastest two minutes in sport' – California Chrome, pictured with mother Love the Chase as a foal, was a huge bargain -- the mare costing $8,000 and breeding with sire Lucky Pulpit for just $2,000.

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Photos:'The fastest two minutes in sport'

'The fastest two minutes in sport' – The colt has become a surprise hit in thoroughbred racing, upstaging far more costly rivals in something of a fairy tale.

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Photos:'The fastest two minutes in sport'

'The fastest two minutes in sport' – All eyes in the U.S. will be on Kentucky from dusk until dawn as the world's best horses battle it out for the $2 million purse.

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Photos:'The fastest two minutes in sport'

'The fastest two minutes in sport' – Star jockey Gary Stevens returned to the sport before last year's Kentucky Derby and is targeting a fourth win in the prestigious race on Candy Boy.

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Photos:'The fastest two minutes in sport'

'The fastest two minutes in sport' – The stands will once again be full to the brim for the key occasion of American thoroughbred racing.

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Photos:'The fastest two minutes in sport'

'The fastest two minutes in sport' – Flamboyant hats are never far away on major race days.

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Photos:'The fastest two minutes in sport'

'The fastest two minutes in sport' – Spectators come in all shapes and sizes each, including a quartet of AXE astronauts in attendance at the event a year ago.

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Photos:'The fastest two minutes in sport'

'The fastest two minutes in sport' – Colorful head pieces are always a feature on race day and, in the case of this punter, hopefully lucky horseshoe sunglasses.

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Photos:'The fastest two minutes in sport'

'The fastest two minutes in sport' – Last year the rain came down but those gathered for the event remained undeterred by the mud underfoot. Who will the sun shine down on in 2014?

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"I think it was very nice of them," he said. "I don't know if it really helps him or not, but he's been running with (them) so why change.

Espinoza spoke of his relationship with the horse, which he has ridden for the six-race winning streak.

"He loves to run, and I think he likes it when I let him know that I am in control," Espinoza said. "I want him to listen to me, what I want him to do during the race, and I think he likes that."

Espinoza said he was taking a few days to "shut down my mind for a little bit." Even with the Belmont representing the biggest race of his life, he said he was even thinking about it yet.

Espinoza, who has more than 20,000 career starts, is scheduled to race twice at Santa Anita on Friday.